Skeleton structure



(No ModeL) 2 Sheets-Shee 1. G. BATES. SKELETON STRUCTURE.

lllllfl Patented Oct. 3, 1882.

Fig.1.

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WITNESSES BY L A TORNEY.

(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2. E. O. BATES.

' SKELETON STRUCTURE.

No. 265,301. Patented Oct. 3, 1882.

VgTNESSES: INVEZNTORI {mafia/iii BY al/ ATTORNEY.

STATES EDWARD O. BATES, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

SKELETON STRUCTURE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 265,301, dated October3, 1882.

Application filed January 9, 1882.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, EDWARD G. BATES, ofBoston, in the county of Suffolk and State of Massachusetts,haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Skeleton Structures, ofwhich the following, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings,is a specification.

My invention relates to the structure of masts and yards for vessels,posts for railway-signals, electric lights, and other purposes, andother similar articles; audit consistsin certain details ofconstruction, which will be readily understood by reference to thedescription of the drawings-and to the claims to be hereinafter given.

Figure 1 of the drawings is a side elevation of a railway signal-postconstructed in accordance with my invention. Fig. 2 is a centralvertical section of the same on line 20 w on Fig. 3. Fig. 3 is ahorizontal section on line 00 w on Fig. 1, enlarged. Fig. 4. is apartial vertical section through one of the spiders and couplings online 3 y on Fl 3. Fig. 5 is a similar vertical section through a portionof cap or head of the post and one of the tie-rods or supports. Fig. 6is an elevation of a yard for a vessel embodying my invention. Fig. 7 isa transverse section on line 2 2 on Fig. 6, enlarged. Fig. 8 is asimilar section, illustrating a modification of the spiders or stayswhich connect the several longitudinal Ts or rods together, and Fig. 9is apartial vertical section on linen v on Fig. 8.

In the post illustrated in Figs. 1,2, 3, 4, and 5,AA are thesupportingbars,made in sections, a, a, a and a of metal rods or tubing,screwed into couplings b b 11 end to end, the lower end of each ot'thelower sectionsbein g screwed into a step, c, secured upon the base B,which is buried in the ground. As a suitable mode of firmly connectingthe standards together, I have shown at the upper end of the uppersections (which in this case is the top of the tower) a plate or head,d, secured to the said standards by nuts 0 and for equivalent means. Aseries of spiders or stays, g, g, and 9 are placed within the circle ofthe supports A A, and are connected thereto by screw-bolts h. Thesections a, a and a of the supports A, which are above the ground-lineB, are made of different diameters, a being the largest and a (Nomodel.)

the smallest, and I prefer to make all of the sections a, a,a ,an d a otsaid supports of tubing, as shownin Figs. 3, 4, and 5. The spiders g, g,and g may in one construction be com posed of a ring of metal, upon theexterior of which are formed three or more outwardly-projecting bossesof greater or less length,accordin g to the position which theparticular spider is to occupy, so that when the supports A A aresecured thereto they shall all incline toward a common center, and thusproduce a gradually-tapering structure.

WVhen the post or column is to be used for a railway-signal a thinsheet-metal tube, 0, is secured within the rings of the spiders g, g,and 9 to receive the counterbalance-weight; but said tube is not anecessary part of the structure, or, in other words, does not add to thestrength or stiffness of the column,and is only used as a sort of screenor guide for the countor-weight when such is used.

When the post or column is to be used for supporting an electric lightthe tube 0 may, if not required in connection therewith, be dispensedwith.

Between two of the supports A A, I place the horizontal rods 6 t to forma ladder, by means ot'which the top of the column is rendered easilyaccessible.

Four supports are shown in the post illustrated but it is obvious that agreater number may be used; or the number may be reduced to threewithout att'ectingthe principles of my invention; and itis also obviousthat the post or column may be made of any desired height or any desireddegree ot'taper to adapt it to the various uses to which it maybeapplied.

In Fig. 6 is illustrated a double-tapered structure adapted to use as abeam or a yard of a vessel, which is constructed in all respects likethe column shown in Figs. 1 and 2, except that it tapers in bothdirections from the center of its length and that the tube 0 is notused.

In cases where the tube 0 is not used the spiders may consist of plainrings of wroughtiron both in the post or column and the (louole-taperedstructure, said rings being made of different diameters and secured tothe supports A by bolts connecting them with the couplings,substantially as shown in Figs. 8 and 9. This makes a very strong anddurable structure, presenting but a small area of surface to the actionofthe wind, and one that is comparativelyinexpensive when considered inthelig'htof its durability.

The application of my invention to yards of vessels, beams, or trusses Iwill reserve for another application later.

Vhat I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of theUnited States, is-- 1. The combination of the pipes, the T-fittings, thespiders, and the bolts uniting the couplings and the spiders,substantially as and for the purpose described.

2. The combinatiomiu a skeleton structure, of the pipes, theT-couplings, the spiders, the

